Like many other vendors, Clear2There is a company with a clear understanding for Machine to Machine, or M2M. At ITEXPO West 2011 in Austin, TX, Clear2There owner, Craig Stein, talked with TMCnet’s Managing Editor Stefanie Mosca about his company’s switch to the M2M market and bringing its services into the cloud.

The conversation was captured in this video.

While Clear2There started in 1988 as a video surveillance and security provider, Stein says he looks at security as just another device or sensor. “M2M is all about connecting to sensors and devices,” he said. The ubiquity is a cloud-based software solution similar to a single dashboard for the end user or a third-party monitoring service, providing access to a variety of devices.

“(The dashboard) is pretty diverse but can simplify it to connect all the different devices and prove information,” Stein said.

Some of the more prevalent trends in the M2M market are energy management. Stein says this is a real buzz word for small, mid-sized and enterprise management, but it can be a high monthly expense. However, there is a vast approach to the M2M market place for businesses.

Clear2There, for example, has full M2M features to select from. Stein believes his company brings simplicity because of the whole cloud-based approach. Clear2There can use the cloud to give the end user all encompassing power.

Stein also shared some insight into his business model by explaining how Clear2There goes to the market directly, taking its solutions, software and products to a reseller or bar. “We think that is important because of the local representation,” Stein said. “That’s our whole approach, through bars and resellers.”

There are challenges in the cloud-based applications, as well. From a reseller or bar perspective, they have to wrap their heads around how to resell hosted services. In sales, that can be difficult, yet there is still a reoccurring revenue model. This drives up equity in a company and Stein says he is seeing organizations change their business model as a result.

From an end user perspective, they have to get used to the fact that their information is going to be remote and in the cloud. This is a mental hurdle to overcome and realistically, information is more secure in the cloud than in the back room. 


Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, taking place Feb. 1-3, 2012 in Miami, Fla. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.


Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell